Parents Guide 2024 WESTBOURNE & PREP DEPARTMENT
Welcome
The Preparatory School includes Westbourne, our Pre-Prep Department for girls aged 2½-5 years, and the Prep Department for 6-11 year olds.
This booklet gives details about life at EHS and which are important factors when choosing a school and we hope you will find it useful.
We look forward to meeting you in person so that we can share the magic of the Prep School and explain why girls flourish here, and there are plenty of opportunities to visit at an open day or on a school day. Find out more about us via our website www.edgbastonhigh.co.uk News stories from pupils and staff are posted to the website each week as ‘Friday Headlines’, and our social media feeds illustrate activities in the classroom and beyond to build a picture of the modern and inspiring education we offer at Edgbaston High’s Prep School.
School Aims
From our youngest to our most senior pupil, we aim to nurture confident, considerate and intellectually curious young women.
We will do this by:
• Inspiring a life-long passion for learning, to encourage a thirst for knowledge and to provide each girl with the opportunity of becoming an independent learner.
• Delivering education of the highest standard via a comprehensive programme of study consisting of a broad and balanced core curriculum complemented and enriched by a wide variety of co-curricular pursuits.
• Fostering interests which will enrich each girl and enable her to make a valuable contribution to the school and the wider community.
• Providing a caring pastoral system, which supports mental health and wellbeing, enabling every girl to develop her character, confidence and demonstrate her talents, and to take on roles of leadership and responsibility.
• Promoting a strong sense of community in which girls are helped to develop respectful and tolerant attitudes which will enable them to live in harmony with all members of society.
School Policies
On the website you will find a range of school policies on matters such as safeguarding and data privacy as well as information about the curriculum, co-curricular activities and our outstanding programme of pastoral care:
https://www.edgbastonhigh.co.uk/about-ehs/policy-documents
Introducing our Preparatory School
In Westbourne, pupils build firm academic foundations and a love of learning. Our curriculum follows the Early Years Foundation Stage guidelines but we extend the girls’ learning beyond these and many girls are exceeding the national levels by the time they leave Reception. We also make personal and social development a high priority and Westbourne helps girls to develop confidence, self-awareness and consideration for others and establishes behaviour and conduct that sets them up for life.
Girls can enter Nursery in Westbourne from the age of 2½ and will have their third birthday by August. Girls then move to our Kindergarten class and it is during this academic year that they will have their fourth birthday. The last year in Westbourne is Reception, before the girls move to Year 1 in the Prep Department.
Each of our classes from Nursery to Reception is taught by a qualified teacher and a teaching assistant.
The Westbourne School Day: Nursery, Kindergarten and Reception
Westbourne doors open at 8.20am with registration at 8.50am giving some flexibility of arrival time for parents. We have plenty of space for drop-off as we have access to the additional parking at the Botanical Gardens next door. Girls will engage in a choice of activities with their classmates from the moment they arrive in the classroom.
Pattern of the Day
8.20 – 8.45 Arrive at School
(Individual reading / social interaction / free choice)
8.50 Registration
8.55 – 10.15 Period 1
10.15 – 10.35 Morning Break
10.35 – 11.45 Period 2
11.45 - 1.05 Lunch and Break Time
1.05 – 1.10 Registration
1.10 – 2.30 Period 3
2.30 – 2.50 Afternoon Break
2.50 – 3.15 Period 4
(Assembly on Tuesday afternoon)
Westbourne girls finish their day at 3.15pm and girls are dismissed from Westbourne main door between 3.15 and 3.45pm, giving some flexibility in collection time. This is particularly helpful if Westbourne pupils have older siblings.
The Prep School Day: Years 1-6
Girls arrive to the Prep School playground, which is supervised from 8.15am, from various entry points. They can arrive at any time between 8.15am and 8.45am.
Pattern of the Day
8.45 Bell to line up Girls dismissed to classrooms.
School ends at 3.15 pm for Years 1 and 2 and at 3.30pm for Years 3 to 6. There is again a half an hour period when girls are supervised, giving parents some flexibility of time for collection. If girls in Years 1 and 2 have not been collected by 3.45pm and girls in Year
3 to 6 by 4.00pm they will be placed in After School Care and a charge made accordingly.
Period
10.25 Period
10.25
10.45 Morning
10.45 – 11.20 Period
11.20 - 11.55 Period
11.55 – 1.10 Lunch and Break Time 1.10 – 1.30 Registration and Reading Activity 1.30 – 2.00 Period 5 2.00 – 2.30 Period 6 2.30 – 3.00 Period 7 3.00 – 3.30 Period 8
3.15pm
8.50 Registration 8.55 – 9.15 Assembly / Form Period 9.15 – 9.50
1 9.50 –
2
–
Break
3
4
(3.00 -
for Years 1 & 2)
Wrap Around Care
It may be that parents need to extend the school day hours and we have a very flexible system in place for both Before and After School Care to meet the varying needs of families. It is open to Westbourne and Prep pupils.
• Before School Care is available from 7.30 am. Girls are cared for by a member of staff and are escorted to the classroom at 8.20 am.
• After School Care is available from the end of the school day until 6.00 pm. We have a tiered payment system with one cost until 4.30 pm and a further charge beyond that time which includes a light tea.
• Parents only pay for sessions that their daughter attends and bookings can be made on the day and at short notice.
Holiday Provision
We offer a Holiday Club in each school holiday where girls from Westbourne and Prep enjoy a range of indoor and outdoor activities, and a chance to relax and play together with their friends. The staff members are well known to the children as they work at EHS during term time.
The Admissions Process for Westbourne
Entry is from 2 ½. We welcome inquisitive, curious girls who are excited to learn! Our play-based assessments take place in the term prior to their chosen point of entry. Children play in small groups and try some fun activities designed to explore language and social skills, physical and creative skills, and enable girls to be themselves.
With girls applying for Reception, teaching staff assess number work, letter sounds and any early reading skills.
The Admissions Process for Prep
Girls considering joining EHS are invited to sit an entrance test. Girls sit written tests in the morning, followed by a Taster Afternoon where they get to experience lessons and meet pupils.
Occasional Vacancies to other Year Groups in Prep School
Children can join Westbourne or the Prep department at any stage depending on a place being available. Please contact the Admissions Team in the first instance to discuss if there is room in your year group of interest.
Making an Application
If you are considering Edgbaston High School for your daughter, you are advised to make an enquiry as soon as possible. The first step is to make a formal registration for admission. A Registration Fee of £80 covers our administrative costs and is non-refundable. This may be paid via the Admissions Portal. Acceptance of a registration does not constitute an offer of a place.
On acceptance of a place a deposit of £300 is due, refunded to you when your daughter leaves, less any disbursements.
You may register your daughter by completing the form on our Admissions Portal. The portal will allow you to create an account, register and pay for your daughter’s registration and track the process of your application. Before signing up to the Admissions Portal remember to have to hand:
• A scanned head and shoulders photo of your daughter.
• A pdf of any relevant medical or Educational Psychologist’s report you wish to submit (which may result in Extra Time being allocated in examinations).
• A VISA/Mastercard debit or credit card to pay the registration fee.
School Fees
Our school fees are set by the School’s Governing Body at the beginning of the Summer Term and covers text books, stationery and Personal Accident Insurance. Please note that school fees and extras are subject to an annual increase. For the current fees list please visit the Admissions section of our website.
Lunch is compulsory for pupils and is charged separately.
Help with Fees
We are pleased to be able to offer a limited number of means-tested bursaries to pupils joining us in Reception or Year 3. If you wish to apply for bursary funding, please request an application form from the Admissions Office. For further information about Fee Assistance and a note of the application deadlines, please visit the section on our website: www.edgbastonhigh.co.uk/fees
Admissions queries
On the Preparatory School Admissions pages of our website you will find a list of frequently asked questions. For further information about any aspect of the Admissions process please contact a member of the Admissions Team:
admissions@edgbastonhigh.co.uk
Edgbaston Birmingham B15 3TS 0121 454 5831 edgbastonhigh.co.uk